A message of hope: how young Scots would change their country for the better

The following extracts are taken from an ebook of essays written by schoolchildren, outlining what would they change if they ruled Scotland

‘Open more food banks’

More than a million people in Scotland live in poverty. I don’t think it is fair for some people to live an amazing life with everything they want and need, and some people worry that they won’t have a bed for the night or when they will have their next meal.

I would open more food banks and hope that more people would feel confident to get help and hopefully turn their lives around, for even a little while, and not feel embarrassed. I would make sure that there were friendly, kind and caring people who volunteer there, and that people would be able to talk to them honestly and get the help that they need. I would like it if shops could donate food that is fresh, instead of it all going to waste. Amy Russell, 13, Currie

‘Children with disablities should have a normal school life’

Children who have disabilities should be able to socialise and have a normal schooling life. I think if we slowly started to mix the children at a young age it would benefit them. If children without disabilities were schooled with the children who do, they would understand that they never asked for that and it wasn’t a choice that they made. Melissa Duff, 15, Edinburgh

‘Provide free sanitary products’

Almost all female bathrooms have no sanitary products available, and if they do the machines are out of date and some users feel embarrassed using them in such a public place. A period is not a choice. As a female student, I feel strongly about the issue and have heard reports of socks and tissues being used as an alternative to sanitary products because women can’t afford them. This is unacceptable. If we give out free condoms, we can surely provide free sanitary products in all female bathrooms. I would make it a legal requirement that all public toilets have at least one free machine filled with sanitary products as everyone should have a chance to feel clean and in control. Libby Cornwall, 14, Dunbar

‘We need more affordable housing’

The thing that I would most like to change is to have more affordable housing. Like 214,000 other households across Scotland, I live in an overcrowded house. The difficulties are having nowhere quiet or spacious enough to study or do homework. For many children it makes it even more difficult to break out of the cycle of poverty as they cannot achieve the grades they need to access university courses, which are more likely to lead to well-paid, professional jobs. Logan Davidson, 14, Leith

‘There is an unnecessary stigma surrounding mental health’

I aim to tackle mental ill-health in schools. As it is such a common issue, we as a society have a responsibility to alter our perception of mental health. There is an unnecessary stigma surrounding these problems. Young people and adults must be told that it is not just them; there is help out there and they are not alone. I would set up mental health clinics in every school, both primary and secondary, across Scotland. Ailis MacLean, 18, Edinburgh

‘Change how we treat the environment’

One of the biggest injustices in our society is our treatment of the environment and the effect this is having on our world’s poorest people.

Climate change will only exacerbate the gap between the richest and the poorest. First, it will cause an increase in natural disasters – we are already seeing this in action. Between 2000 and 2009 the number of natural disasters was approximately three times higher than in the 1980s – these include floods, droughts and extreme weather. The communities that are less equipped to face such environmental catastrophes are the ones that are bearing the brunt. But I believe we can make a change. Ruth Dolan, 18, Edinburgh

‘Support older people’

I would like to improve the quality of life for the older generation. Loneliness is still a massive issue – even for those who are healthy enough to stay in their own homes. It is important to have as many support groups as possible, and there are many creative solutions that could make life better for people. One idea could be a scheme to put people in touch with lonely older people and invite them to dinner regularly. It is just a small gesture, but it provides a way for people to socialise and get out of the house – it’s a small step that could be easily achievable. Kara Dempsey, 13, Bo’ness

‘Recuit more medical students’

The NHS is clearly in distress. There is an increasing number of patients and still no rise in doctors or numbers of beds. In 2011, 71% of junior doctors in the UK continued in their training to become a GP or specialist. This number dropped to 50% in 2016. If this trend continues, there will be no NHS. Universities need to recruit more medical students, but also need to ensure their methods of assessing an applicant allow them to find committed applicants. Caitlyn Gallagher,18, Elgin

‘Poverty is unacceptable’

The fact that there are still approximately one in five Scottish people living in poverty is unacceptable. In a country that wishes to advance in the ways that Scotland does, this must be tackled urgently. As a prospective leader, I would fund employability groups and support workers to help the most vulnerable people in Scotland to become fully participating members of society. Shaun Sweeney, 16, Houston

The ebook is published by the Hunter Foundation, showcasing the entries of an essay writing competition organised with Skills Development Scotland and Founders4Schools. The winner was invited to a dinner function with Barack Obama

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